Letter to Rt. Hon. Jacqui Smith, Secretary of State for Education (July 2024)

8 August 2024

16 July 2024

Rt. Hon Jacquie Smith

Minister of State

Department for Education

Sanctuary Buildings

Great Smith Street

London SW1P 3BT

Dear Minister,

ITE for the FE & Skills sector

I am writing to congratulate you on your appointment as Minister of State and to request a meeting to discuss teacher education for the FE & Skills sector.

The education of teachers for the FE & skills sector was, as you know, deregulated following the publication of Lord Lingfield’s report published in 2012. We think that the measures taken on the back of that report went too far and we are supportive of recent moves to reintroduce a measure of regulation, provided that it is not overly prescriptive and is agreed with the sector.

Teacher education for the FE & skills sector should have greater parity with that for schools. This would amongst other things imply: greater consistency in terms of pre-service bursary payments for pre-service ITE students; the award of QTLS on the successful completion of a recognised ITE programme rather than (as now) a subsequent period of professional formation; a CPD entitlement for recently qualified teachers; and the collection of better data on teacher supply and recruitment. These are all issues which we would like to discuss with you and your officials (with whom we have always enjoyed a professional and collegiate relationship) in person.

Yours sincerely,

James Noble-Rogers

Executive Director